2024-04-19-eEdition

APRIL 19, 2024 THE CATHOLIC WEEK PAGE 5 illones de personas en América del Norte experimentaron recientemente un evento único en la vida, un eclipse total de sol. Cientos de miles de personas de todo el mundo visitaron las diferentes ciudades que se encontraban en el camino de la totalidad, es decir, donde la luna se super- puso al sol completamente, convirtiendo el día en noche por unos minutos. Aunque no estábamos en el camino de la totalidad, la gente de la Arquidiócesis de Mobile se benefició de un eclipse solar parcial. Es reconfortante ver cómo las personas se unen cuando ocurren grandes acontecimien- tos naturales, buenos o catastró- ficos, porque como seres hu- manos estamos diseñados para compartir y ayudarnos unos a otros en los momentos buenos y difíciles. Un eclipse total recuerda la hora en que, según el Evan- gelio de San Lucas, nuestro Señor Jesucristo encomendó Su Espíritu a Dios Padre, pues Lucas nos dice que “era como el mediodía y la oscuridad cubrió toda la tierra hasta las tres de la tarde a causa de un eclipse de sol. Entonces el velo del templo se rasgó por la mitad.” Un eclipse total también nos recuerda la imagen de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, milagro- samente grabada en la tilma de San Juan Diego. En la ima- gen, María Santísima aparece embarazada enfrente del sol, eclipsando al temido dios-sol de los aztecas; y con sus manos unidas en oración, dirige nues- tra atención a su hijo, el Dios Verdadero por quien vivimos. En los Hechos de los Após- toles, Lucas cuenta que cuando Jesús ascendió al cielo, una nube lo apartó de la vista de los apóstoles. Todos estos pasajes e imá- genes deberían recordarnos que el nacimiento, la vida, muerte, resurrección y la ascensión de Jesús fueron eventos cósmicos que llevaron a la humanidad a la comunión con Dios. A través de los lentes de la fe podemos todos juntos mirar al Hijo en total adoración, con la certeza de que su amor es total y eterno.  Millions of people in North America recently experienced a “once-in-a-lifetime event,” a total eclipse of the sun. People from all over the world traveled to the different cities that were on the path of totality, where the moon would completely su- perpose the sun, turning the day into night for a few minutes. Even though we were not in the path of totality, the people of the Archdiocese of Mobile experienced a partial solar eclipse. It is amazing to see how people come together when big natural events, good or cata- strophic, occur, for as humans we are wired to share and assist each other in good and difficult moments. A total eclipse reminds us of the hour when, according to Saint Luke’s Gospel, our Lord Jesus Christ commended His Spirit to God the Father, for Luke tells us that it was about noon when darkness came over the whole land until 3 p.m. because of an eclipse of the sun. Then the veil of the temple was torn down the middle. A total eclipse also reminds us of Our Lady of Guadalupe’s image, miraculously etched in the tilma (cloak) of Saint Juan Diego. In the image, a pregnant Blessed Mary appears in front of the sun, eclipsing the Aztecs’ dreaded sun-god; and with her hands joined in prayer, directs our attention to her son, the True God for whom we live. In the Acts of the Apostles, Luke recounts that when Jesus ascended into heaven, a cloud took him from the apostles’ sight. All these passages and im- ages should remind us that Jesus’ birth, life, death, resurrec- tion and ascension were cosmic events that brought human- ity in communion with God. Through the glass of faith we can all together look up to the Son in awe, with the certainty that His love is total and eter- nal. —Deacon Hector J. Donastorg, is the Director of Hispanic Min- istry for the Archdiocese of Mobile. He may be emailed at hdonastorg@ mobarch.org M HISPANIC MINISTRY Eventos Cósmicos - Cosmic events Deacon Hector Donastorg The Archdiocesan Directory includes valuable information: Mass schedules • Seminarians • Deacons • Parishes • Priests • Organizations • Institutions • Monasteries • Convents • Religious Communities • And Much More! 2024 DIRECTORY OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF MOBILE 2024 Archdiocesan Directory Order Email Claudia Sims at csims@mobarch.org Mail to: The Catholic Week; P.O. 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